***City v Fulham - Official Match Thread***

[Beefymcfc]

Over 5 hours to go and I feel this game is the one that launches us back to the top. Having only the Premier League to focus on should leave the team in doubt about what they have to do.

Let's start with a quick read from the Beeb's preview:

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany will serve a one-match ban against Fulham following his red card at Hull last weekend.

Forward Stevan Jovetic returns to the squad after injury.

Fulham winger Ashkan Dejagah has been ruled out of the game because of a muscle problem.

Kostas Mitroglou is missing with a knee problem sustained last week, while Scott Parker remains sidelined with a knee injury.

MATCH PREVIEW

On paper this is one of the most sure-fire home bankers of the season.

City look far too good for Fulham. They've won 44 of their last 51 home league games. Aguero and Negredo alone have scored more goals together in all competitions than the whole Fulham team have managed in the league this season.

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Football analyst "Manchester City are a better team this season than they were under Roberto Mancini, and there's a better atmosphere in the dressing room.

"This year Fulham have been a perfect example of how not to run a football club. They're on manager number three. You could be the best manager in the world but it takes time to know the players and the league."

3-0

They're unbeaten in nine games against the Cottagers, who've picked up just two away points in six matches since their Boxing Day success at Norwich. It has to be City.

But then, if they'd not lost similar sure-fire bets at Cardiff, Villa and Sunderland, they would virtually have the title sewn up. Had they not struggled to see off Palace and Stoke at home, they would go into this in the knowledge of an easy Eastlands romp.

Had Chelsea, Wigan and Barcelona not shown the rest how to win at City, then there would be no doubts. But because of those results, Fulham will carry a little hope into the game.

David Stockdale looked a more dependable goalkeeper than Stekelenburg against Newcastle, helping them keep just a fourth league clean sheet of a wretched campaign. They deserved that win.

But they still allowed Newcastle to create chances. City won't be as profligate.

Manuel Pellegrini's side have to win this. Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool away all lurk around the corner. It will be at those grounds where their title express could be de-railed.

The injuries to Aguero have been untimely. But then the re-awakening at long last of Demichelis as a quality defender at Hull was welcome, and the form of Joe Hart has sparkled. I can't see Fulham scoring.

At the other end they have the fluid movement, the caress of a Silva pass, and the brutal finishing power to add to Fulham's relegation woes. An early City goal could open the floodgates. But even if they have to wait a while for the goal to come that home banker bet will pay out.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

•Manchester City are enjoying a nine-match unbeaten run against Fulham in the league, winning the last four. It equals their longest top-flight unbeaten run against the Whites (April 1967 to April 2005).

•However, Fulham have a good away record against City in the Premier League, winning three matches and drawing four on their last 10 visits.

Manchester City

•City have responded to the 1-0 home defeat against Chelsea by keeping three successive clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time this season. They last went four league games in a row without conceding a goal in January last year.

•Manuel Pellegrini's side have scored 11 league goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches this season, compared to just one for Fulham - which was an own goal by Liverpool's Kolo Toure.

•They have scored an average of 3.18 goals per Premier League match with Sergio Aguero this season, but 1.70 goals per match without him.

•They have won the last 21 matches in which David Silva has scored.

Fulham

•Last weekend's victory against Newcastle was Fulham's first under Felix Magath, ending a nine-match winless run and bringing a first clean sheet in 15 league games.

•Magath's side have only kept four Premier League clean sheets all season, the fewest in the division.

•They have conceded 65 league goals this season - 13 more than the next-worst side, Cardiff.

•Fulham have conceded the opening goal in a league-high 21 matches this season.

•The Whites are enduring a six-match winless streak in away games, conceding 16 goals in that period.

[Beefymcfc]

Point of note. The above states:

• However, Fulham have a good away record against City in the Premier League, winning three matches and drawing four on their last 10 visits.

That's a little misleading. Fulham haven't won at ours for 5 years and the last time they got a point was 3 seasons ago. Since they last got a point we have beaten them 3-0 and 2-0, big Dave bagging both last season.

[john@staustell]

Looks like it will sell out now, after a desperate scramble for all the tickets returned by Fulham

Except for the fuckers who buy STs then only go to the big games of course. Or take less kids than they have seats for.

[Beefymcfc]

Looks like it will sell out now, after a desperate scramble for all the tickets returned by Fulham

Except for the fuckers who buy STs then only go to the big games of course. Or take less kids than they have seats for.

Their away following is ridiculous mate, the worst in the PL for me. Then we have to pick-up the excess which invariably, we always do.

Shit fans and very much a 'Boutique Club'.

[Beefymcfc]

Referee: Jon Moss

P 5, W 4, D 1, L 0.

This Season

City 3 v 1 Everton
City 6 v 0 West Ham (C1C)
Norwich 0 v 0 City

Last Season

City 5 v 0 Villa
City 2 v 0 Fulham

Goals: 16 for, 1 against.

As a recently promoted ref I think he sees us as one of the elite (if that's the word) and has no preconceived ideas on how he should officiate us. Won all our home games with him.

[Dubciteh]

We need to get at thm from the off, no complacency and score a few goals let the league know we are back.


If we start like we did against wigan we can kss everything goodbye.

[Cit.revenge]

There was a period without Aguero first injury of hes where Dzeko and Negredo continue scoring 4 5 goals for a match like 4 5 games but then second injury of Aguero and first from Negredo then they stop all three of our strikers.It's just a matter of time they get back in form.

[Slim]

Like to see Milner, Garcia and Jovetic play some part. Also subbing off Silva and Yaya as soon as it's feasible.

[dikdok]

Let's try what everyone seems to do to us = close them down from the off!!!!

[Herb]

Referee: Jon Moss

P 5, W 4, D 1, L 0.

This Season

City 3 v 1 Everton
City 6 v 0 West Ham (C1C)
Norwich 0 v 0 City

Last Season

City 5 v 0 Villa
City 2 v 0 Fulham

Goals: 16 for, 1 against.

As a recently promoted ref I think he sees us as one of the elite (if that's the word) and has no preconceived ideas on how he should officiate us. Won all our home games with him.

I appreciate your direction and I welcome the comforting stats - he's certainly better than most of the bought fuckers but it remains the case that we've won all of our home games with most referees in recent years. More that we're brilliant than that any of the refs show us favour I think.

Oh, and a 3 goal advantage to us so say 3-0 or 4-1 to us today

[Dameerto]

Anyone been watching Football Focus? There's some good PR for us - they're presenting from the Etihad and they've just done a piece on the Campus, what was there before, the amount of recycling that went into it, it's environmentally friendly aspects, benefits for East Manchester etc. Now they're interviewing Paddy about the EDS.

[Dameerto]

Now they've got Steph Houghton on from the women's team.

[AG7]

Anyone been watching Football Focus? There's some good PR for us - they're presenting from the Etihad and they've just done a piece on the Campus, what was there before, the amount of recycling that went into it, it's environmentally friendly aspects, benefits for East Manchester etc. Now they're interviewing Paddy about the EDS.

Yeah brilliant programme today ... showed quite a few bits behind the scenes at Etihad ... included interviews with Navas and Vieira and of course the CFA and the MCWFC ...

[bayblue]

Anyone been watching Football Focus? There's some good PR for us - they're presenting from the Etihad and they've just done a piece on the Campus, what was there before, the amount of recycling that went into it, it's environmentally friendly aspects, benefits for East Manchester etc. Now they're interviewing Paddy about the EDS.

Was really good and I think well deserved in reflection of what the club does for the community.

[Dameerto]

Lawro should be in City Square right about now, if you happen to be reading this on your phone give him some stick!

[Dwaring]

@MCFC: TEAM NEWS: Hart, Zabaleta, Lescott, Demichelis, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Toure, Milner, Nasri, Silva, Negredo #cityvfulham #mcfc

[Dwaring]

I like the team with who's available. let's get back in the scoring mood today. I wanna see a big number like early in the season.

[Dameerto]

Interesting, that suggest Silva playing behind a striker.

[Camebro]

Good team. Hopefully if jovetic is fit he will get a run out.

[Slim]

Interesting, that suggest Silva playing behind a striker.

Or Nasri playing off the shoulder.